Welcome to my blog! I blog about the historical romances I write as well as the history behind them.

Le Chevalier's Abode

I opened up Wikimedia Commons this morning and voilà, there it was –
Le Chevalier’s home outside of Paris. (Except in this case, it’s a palace in
Stockholm. Close enough!)

When I was writing the "Paris chapter" of Le Chevalier, I can’t
tell you how long I scoured the web looking for a chateau of some sort that fit
the image in my head. While I knew what I wanted, I always find it easier to
make a scene jump off the page if I have an image in front of me to reference.

I wanted a house that was flashy, ornate, and a bit
overwhelming to Alexandra, an American who lived her life in Philadelphia amid
modest brick and wood buildings.

The structure only had two-stories, but the windows
on each floor must have been twelve feet high. An ornate wrought iron grillwork
covered the lower third of each window, giving the house a feminine, frilly
appearance. The slight pink hue of the stone enhanced the image. Alex squinted
up at miniature cherubs spaced at intervals along the edge of the ornate trim
lining the top of the house. Overall, his home reminded her of a pastry, albeit
a large one.